System and method for facilitating recurring series of drawings

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the invention provide systems and methods for facilitating a recurring series of distinct drawings (e.g., lottery, sweepstakes, raffles, etc.), for a prize or a variety of prizes (e.g., from one source or a variety of sources), over an extended period of time, or for an open-ended period of time. In addition, a user can enter the recurring series of drawings through a single registration (e.g., entry into a drawing database). The entrant will be continuously entered into the series of recurring drawings until the entrant is removed from the database, e.g., opts out of the system. In one embodiment, preferences and attributes can be determined for each entrant and these preferences and attributes can be used to enter the entrant into a customized series of recurring drawings.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/495,539 filed on Jun. 10, 2011, and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHODFOR FACILITATING RECURRING SERIES OF DRAWINGS”, which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to contest systems, and moreparticularly, to methods and systems for facilitating recurring seriesof drawings.

BACKGROUND ART

In typical drawings, an entrant is given a ticket or entry into aspecific drawing, and then a winner is chosen. After the drawing isover, an entrant is no longer registered and is no longer eligible for aprize. In some systems, a series of drawings may be included in onesweepstakes (e.g., an entrant can pre-pay or pre-register for a numberof drawings, or the sweepstakes itself may involve more than one prizeso multiple winners can be chosen.) However, in a typical sweepstakes,even if multiple drawings are done for multiple prizes or multipledrawings are done over a set period of time, the sweepstakes itself is asingle event. Once the event is over, an entrant is un-enrolled, andneeds to re-enter to be an entrant in a subsequent drawing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the invention provide systems and methods for facilitating arecurring series of drawings (e.g., lottery, sweepstakes, raffles,etc.), for a prize or a variety of prizes (e.g., from one source or avariety of sources), over an extended period of time, or for anopen-ended period of time. In addition, a user can enter the recurringseries of drawings through a single registration (e.g., entry into adrawing database). The entrant will be continuously entered into theseries of recurring drawings until the entrant is removed from thedatabase, e.g., opts out of the system. In one embodiment, preferencesand attributes can be determined for each entrant and these preferencesand attributes can be used to enter the entrant into a customized seriesof recurring drawings. The registration into the series of drawings andthe selection of winners can be provided using any known method, suchas, but not limited to, manual entry, computer software, hardware,email, and/or web registration.

A first aspect of the invention provides a computer-implemented methodof facilitating a recurring series of drawings, the method comprising:entering at least one entrant into a database of eligible drawingentrants; entering the at least one entrant into a drawing in arecurring series of drawings based on inclusion of the at least oneentrant in the database; and automatically continuing to enter the atleast one entrant into subsequent drawings in the recurring series ofdrawings until the entrant is removed from the database.

A second aspect of the invention provides a computer system forfacilitating a recurring series of drawings, the computer systemcomprising: a component configured to enter at least one entrant into adatabase of eligible drawing entrants; a component configured to enterthe at least one entrant into a drawing in a recurring series ofdrawings based on inclusion of the at least one entrant in the database;and a component configured to automatically continue to enter the atleast one entrant into subsequent drawings in the recurring series ofdrawings until the entrant is removed from the database.

A third aspect of the invention provides a computer program comprisingprogram code embodied in at least one computer-readable medium, whichwhen executed, enables a computer system to implement a method offacilitating a recurring series of drawings, the method comprising:entering at least one entrant into a database of eligible drawingentrants; entering the at least one entrant into a drawing in arecurring series of drawings based on inclusion of the at least oneentrant in the database; and automatically continuing to enter the atleast one entrant into subsequent drawings in the recurring series ofdrawings until the entrant is removed from the database.

Other aspects of the invention provide methods, systems, programproducts, and methods of using and generating each, which include and/orimplement some or all of the actions described herein. The illustrativeaspects of the invention are designed to solve one or more of theproblems herein described and/or one or more other problems notdiscussed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the disclosure will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings that depict various aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative environment for providing a system forfacilitating a recurring series of drawings according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart illustrating the methods involved in thesystem according to embodiments of the invention.

It is noted that the drawings may not be to scale. The drawings areintended to depict only typical aspects of the invention, and thereforeshould not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In thedrawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As indicated above, aspects of the invention provide a system and methodfor facilitating recurring series of drawings.

Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein include systems andmethods for facilitating a recurring series of drawings (e.g., lottery,sweepstakes, raffles, etc.), for a prize or a variety of prizes (e.g.,from one source or a variety of sources), over an extended period oftime, or for an open-ended period of time. In addition, a user can enterthe recurring series of drawings through a single registration (e.g.,entry into a drawing database). The registration into the series ofdrawings and the selection of winners can be provided using any knownmethod, such as, but not limited to, manual entry, computer software,hardware, email, and/or web registration.

The systems and methods disclosed herein can randomly or pseudo-randomlychoose winners from a dynamic database of entries, which may grow orshrink over time, but never close to additional registrants. Contestantscan elect to remain in the pool for ongoing drawings, and thereforecontestants can have a multiple number of opportunities for winning froma single entry.

As discussed herein, embodiments of the invention disclosed hereinrelate to a recurring series of drawings (e.g., lottery, sweepstakes,raffles, etc.). As one of skill in the art would understand, the term“drawing” can comprise any situation in which an entrant enters a poolof eligible prize recipients, and each entrant is eligible to receive aprize or prizes through a random or pseudo-random selection from allcurrent entrants. Contrary to typical, existing, drawings orsweepstakes, the drawings of the invention disclosed herein comprise arecurring series of drawings. In typical sweepstakes, even if multipledrawings are done for multiple prizes or multiple drawings are done overa set period of time, the sweepstakes itself is a single event. In oneknown example of these prior art systems, a lottery, such as the NewYork State lottery, allows a user to pre-pay and pre-register formultiple lottery drawings at once. This simply adds conveniences to auser, since they no longer have to subscribe to each lottery drawingwhen they arise. However, a user is still opting into each singlelottery event, and is un-enrolled from each event once that drawingends. Simple pre-paying and pre-registering for future drawings isdistinct from the systems and methods disclosed herein for allowing anentrant to log in with a single registration to be eligible for multipleseries of drawings.

In contrast to prior art systems, the invention disclosed herein relatesto a series of events, for example, a series of distinct drawings thatcan be ongoing, continuous, consecutive, progressive, repetitive,successive, etc. In addition, an entrant is automatically entered intoappropriate drawings until they are explicitly removed from the dynamicdatabase. The recurring series of drawings disclosed herein can refer toa regular or irregular drawing, i.e., a set pattern of drawings or arandomly occurring drawing. In one embodiment of this invention, thedrawings are undefined at the time the entrant enters the database,i.e., the drawings and/or prizes are dynamic, and can constantly changewhile an entrant is enrolled. Thus, when enrolling in the database, anentrant will be eligible to be entered into drawings in the future thatthey are unaware of at the time of enrollment, or which are undeterminedat the time of enrollment.

In one embodiment of the invention, an entrant into the series ofdrawings is in control of how long he/she is entered into the series ofdrawings, e.g., entered into the database of eligible entrants. In otherwords, once an entrant is enrolled (e.g., “opts in” or is enrolled byanother) and is therefore subscribed or registered into the system,he/she is automatically entered into the series of drawings until theentrant is un-enrolled (e.g., “opts out” or is un-enrolled by another).Therefore, even if one drawing ends, the entrant is still eligible towin another concurrent or future drawing because the entrant is enteredinto an ongoing series of drawings, not one specific drawing. Theongoing series of drawings can continue for a specific, extended periodof time, or can be open-ended, e.g., with no set end date. As discussedabove, these on-going, future, drawings can be determined orundetermined at the time an entrant enters the system. The dynamicnature of the series of drawings allows an entrant to enroll in thesystem once, and then be automatically entered into future drawings thathave not yet been established, for prizes that have not yet been set. Inother words, an entrant can be entered into future drawings, separateand distinct from each other, that did not exist at the time ofenrollment.

An entrant can be enrolled, e.g., “opt in”, to the system by any varietyof known methods. For example, an entrant can sign up through a websiteto be entered into the database, through a mailing that can be enteredinto the database through manual data entry, through a verbalconfirmation that can be entered into the database by a third party,through a social media site, etc. It is also understood that an“entrant” can comprise any person who is entered into a drawing underembodiments of this invention, i.e., an entrant could be one person whosigns up for the drawings, a group containing a plurality of persons, orcould be a mailing list of persons who will all be entered into thedrawings. It is also understood that an entrant can be enrolled byanother, i.e., the system, or a third party.

In one embodiment of the invention, preferences and/or attributes can beused to determine which types of drawings an entrant will be enteredinto. Attributes, referring to fact-based information about an entrant,can be objective, and can be determined either by the entrant or by someother means. For example, an entrant's age or geographic location wouldbe an objective attribute (that may change over time, but is still afact-based data point), that can be obtained directly from the entrantor from publicly available information. In addition, preferences, i.e.,dynamic, or subjective, data points can be used to determine which typesof drawings an entrant will be entered into.

Preferences and/or attributes can be used to determine the types ofdrawings in the series of drawings that an entrant would like to beeligible for, and/or the type of drawings that would appropriate for anentrant, and/or drawings in which they would specifically not like toparticipate. Then, the contestant can be automatically entered orexcluded from drawings based on these preferences and/or attributes setin a profile unique to that entrant.

These preferences and/or attributes can be obtained directly from theentrants, or in another embodiment, the preferences and/or attributescan be derived from information available about the entrant. Forexample, an entrant could fill out a questionnaire while enrolling inthe system (or at any later date) to provide preferences and/orattributes for their unique profile. In addition, or instead of directlyproviding the information, publically available information about theentrant can be used to determine an entrant's preferences and/orattributes. In another example, an entrant could authorize the system topull information from other sources, such as social media sites (i.e.,Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, etc.), community or professionalorganization affiliations, other websites, etc. Where an entrant hasintegrated the systems herein into a social media profile, contestantscan register or unregister for the system through their profiles,suggest or recommend to their network, and/or have elements of theirprofile data determine from which drawings to be included or excluded.

In another example, preferences and/or attributes can be used to blockinappropriate content of drawings from specific categories of entrants.For example, an entrant attribute could include the entrant's age. If anentrant either indicates that he/she is under age 21, or informationhe/she has made available to the system through a social media site (orpublically available information) indicates he/she is under age 21, thesystem could ensure that the entrant is not entered into any drawingsthat relate to alcohol or adult content. In another example, an entrantattribute could include a geographic area, e.g., a zip code or homecity/state/country. This attribute could be used to tailor the drawingsto those that would be relevant to an entrant.

Entrants can be given the option to change or edit these preferencesand/or attributes at any given time. In addition, attribute orpreferences may be automatically changed based on changes to informationavailable to the system. For example, attributes such as an entrant'sage or geographic location can be periodically updated to ensure theentrant is entered into appropriate drawings. In addition, preferencescan be periodically updated as new or altered information is obtainedfrom an entrant directly, or through a social media site, or frompublicly available information.

As discussed above, the database of entrants is dynamic, in thatentrants are constantly added and deleted. The systems and methodsdisclosed herein can conduct each individual drawing in the series ofdrawings by, for example, freezing (e.g., taking a snapshot of) thedynamic database at a specific moment in time, and then selectingwinner(s) for one or more drawings at that moment, while the databasecan continue to grow and remains open to additional entries for future,recurring drawings. The previous entries can remain in the database and,therefore, are eligible for future drawings.

As discussed herein, an entrant can be removed or un-enrolled from theseries of drawings at any time, by the system or by the entrantthemselves. Entrants can “opt out” or discontinue their registration atany given time, irrespective of a specific drawing or sweepstake ending.In other words, an entrant will be continuously entered into drawings bythe system until the user explicitly and proactively un-enrolls and“opts out” of the system. In one embodiment, a provider of the systemdescribed herein could un-enroll an entrant from the database forwhatever reason.

A provider of the system and methods disclosed herein could offer toenroll entrants into the dynamic database for free or for a fee. Theprovider could also request that entrants provide a contact email orpreferred contact method so that the provider can notify each entrantthat a winner has been selected for a drawing. Even if an entrant is nota selected winner, this allows the entrant to learn about what prizeshave been awarded in drawings, and provides the provider with a means tocontact each entrant. This is beneficial to the provider (and theproviders of the prizes) because they are able to market to entrants andhave their products and services visible to all entrants.

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an illustrative environment 10 forproviding a system for facilitating a recurring series of drawingsaccording to an embodiment. To this extent, environment 10 includes acomputer system 20 that can perform a process described herein in orderto facilitate a recurring series of drawings. In particular, computersystem 20 is shown including a recurring drawing facilitator program 30,which makes computer system 20 operable to facilitate a recurring seriesof drawings by performing a process described herein.

Computer system 20 is shown including a processing component 22 (e.g.,one or more processors), a storage component 24 (e.g., a storagehierarchy), an input/output (I/O) component 26 (e.g., one or more I/Ointerfaces and/or devices), and a communications pathway 28. In general,processing component 22 executes program code, such as recurring drawingfacilitator program 30, which is at least partially fixed in storagecomponent 24. While executing program code, processing component 22 canprocess data, which can result in reading and/or writing transformeddata from/to storage component 24 and/or I/O component 26 for furtherprocessing. Pathway 28 provides a communications link between each ofthe components in computer system 20. I/O component 26 can comprise oneor more human I/O devices, which enable a human user 12 to interact withcomputer system 20 and/or one or more communications devices to enable asystem user 12 to communicate with computer system 20 using any type ofcommunications link. To this extent, recurring drawing facilitatorprogram 30 can manage a set of interfaces (e.g., graphical userinterface(s), application program interface, and/or the like) thatenable human and/or system users 12 to interact with recurring drawingfacilitator program 30. Further, recurring drawing facilitator program30 can manage (e.g., store, retrieve, create, manipulate, organize,present, etc.) the data, such as drawing data 40, using any solution.

In any event, computer system 20 can comprise one or more generalpurpose computing articles of manufacture (e.g., computing devices)capable of executing program code, such as recurring drawing facilitatorprogram 30, installed thereon. As used herein, it is understood that“program code” means any collection of instructions, in any language,code or notation, that cause a computing device having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular action either directly orafter any combination of the following: (a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; (b) reproduction in a different materialform; and/or (c) decompression. To this extent, recurring drawingfacilitator program 30 can be embodied as any combination of systemsoftware and/or application software.

Further, recurring drawing facilitator program 30 can be implementedusing a set of modules 32. In this case, a module 32 can enable computersystem 20 to perform a set of tasks used by recurring drawingfacilitator program 30, and can be separately developed and/orimplemented apart from other portions of recurring drawing facilitatorprogram 30. For example, modules could be provided such as anentrance/exit facilitator 32 a that could enable computer system 20 toallow entrants to opt in or out of the database, a preference/attributeassigner 32 b that could enable computer system 20 to set preferencesand attributes for an entrant, a customizer 32 c that could enablecomputer system 20 to determine which drawings an entrant is enteredinto, a selector 32 d that could enable computer system 20 to choose awinner for each drawing, etc. As used herein, the term “component” meansany configuration of hardware, with or without software, whichimplements the functionality described in conjunction therewith usingany solution, while the term “module” means program code that enables acomputer system 20 to implement the actions described in conjunctiontherewith using any solution. When fixed in a storage component 24 of acomputer system 20 that includes a processing component 22, a module isa substantial portion of a component that implements the actions.Regardless, it is understood that two or more components, modules,and/or systems may share some/all of their respective hardware and/orsoftware. Further, it is understood that some of the functionalitydiscussed herein may not be implemented or additional functionality maybe included as part of computer system 20.

When computer system 20 comprises multiple computing devices, eachcomputing device can have only a portion of recurring drawingfacilitator program 30 fixed thereon (e.g., one or more modules 32).However, it is understood that computer system 20 and recurring drawingfacilitator program 30 are only representative of various possibleequivalent computer systems that may perform a process described herein.To this extent, in other embodiments, the functionality provided bycomputer system 20 and recurring drawing facilitator program 30 can beat least partially implemented by one or more computing devices thatinclude any combination of general and/or specific purpose hardware withor without program code. In each embodiment, the hardware and programcode, if included, can be created using standard engineering andprogramming techniques, respectively.

Regardless, when computer system 20 includes multiple computing devices,the computing devices can communicate over any type of communicationslink. Further, while performing a process described herein, computersystem 20 can communicate with one or more other computer systems usingany type of communications link. In either case, the communications linkcan comprise any combination of various types of optical fiber, wired,and/or wireless links; comprise any combination of one or more types ofnetworks; and/or utilize any combination of various types oftransmission techniques and protocols.

As discussed herein, recurring drawing facilitator program 30 enablescomputer system 20 to facilitate a recurring series of drawings. Asshown in FIG. 2, computer system 20 (FIG. 1) can allow a user to firstenroll or “opt in” to the system in process S1. Again, an entrant canregister to “opt in” through any known means and then is registered,e.g., entered into the dynamic database. Next, in process S2, thecomputer system 20 can determine if any preferences or attributes areavailable for the entrant. This step can include assigning preferencesand attributes to an entrant based on the entrant's direct input, orderiving those preferences and attributes through other availablesources, as discussed in more detail herein. If no preferences orattributes are set, an entrant is automatically entered into alldrawings by computer system 20 in process S3A. If any preferences orattributes are set, an entrant is automatically entered into a set ofcustomized drawings by computer system 20 in process S3B, according tothe preferences and attributes. As discussed above, the customizeddrawings can be set based on drawings a user specifically has asked tobe excluded from or included in, or can be set based on the computersystem 20's determination of what drawings a user is likely to beinterested in based on their preferences and attributes.

As shown in FIG. 2, if an entrant has been entered into all drawings inprocess S3A, the computer system 20 then determines whether a user hasexplicitly opted out of the recurring series of drawings in process S4A.If no, the entrant is continued to be entered into all drawings by thecomputer system 20 and the loop continues. If yes, the entrant is takenout of the database and not entered into any more drawings by thecomputer system 20 in process S5. Also in process S4A, the computersystem 20 can determine whether the entrant has added any preferences orattributes to his/her profile, or whether there is more informationavailable that would result in preferences or attributes being added. Ifyes, the computer system 20 can add the preferences and attributes, andthen the computer system 20 could move to process S3B and enter theentrant into customized drawings based on those preferences andattributes.

As shown in FIG. 2, if an entrant has entered a customized set ofdrawings in process S3B, the computer system 20 moves to process S4B anddetermines whether an entrant has asked to “opt out” of the recurringseries of drawings or if any preferences or attributes have beenmodified. This modification could result from an entrant proactivelychanging their preferences and/or attributes, or from more informationthat is now available to the computer system 20 that would cause thepreferences and attributes to be modified. For example, if an entranthas changed information available on a social media site, or has movedto a different geographic area, a preference or attribute could beaffected. If modifications to preferences have been made, the computersystem 20 can reassess what drawings to enter the entrant into, and theloop continues as the computer system 20 enters the entrant into a newcustomized set of drawings. Again, after process S4B, if an entrant hasrequested to “opt out” of the recurring series of drawings, the entrantis not entered into any more drawings by the computer system in processS5.

While shown and described herein as a method and system for facilitatingrecurring series of drawings, it is understood that aspects of theinvention further provide various alternative embodiments. For example,in one embodiment, the invention provides a computer program fixed in atleast one computer-readable medium, which when executed, enables acomputer system to facilitate a recurring series of drawings. To thisextent, the computer-readable medium includes program code, such asprogram 30 (FIG. 1), which implements some or all of a process describedherein. It is understood that the term “computer-readable medium”comprises one or more of any type of tangible medium of expression, nowknown or later developed, from which a copy of the program code can beperceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated by a computing device.For example, the computer-readable medium can comprise: one or moreportable storage articles of manufacture; one or more memory/storagecomponents of a computing device; paper; and/or the like.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of providing acopy of program code, such as program 30 (FIG. 1), which implements someor all of a process described herein. In this case, a computer systemcan process a copy of program code that implements some or all of aprocess described herein to generate and transmit, for reception at asecond, distinct location, a set of data signals that has one or more ofits characteristics set and/or changed in such a manner as to encode acopy of the program code in the set of data signals. Similarly, anembodiment of the invention provides a method of acquiring a copy ofprogram code that implements some or all of a process described herein,which includes a computer system receiving the set of data signalsdescribed herein, and translating the set of data signals into a copy ofthe computer program fixed in at least one computer-readable medium. Ineither case, the set of data signals can be transmitted/received usingany type of communications link.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides a method ofgenerating a system for facilitating a recurring series of drawings. Inthis case, a computer system, such as computer system 20 (FIG. 1), canbe obtained (e.g., created, maintained, made available, etc.) and one ormore components for performing a process described herein can beobtained (e.g., created, purchased, used, modified, etc.) and deployedto the computer system. To this extent, the deployment can comprise oneor more of: (1) installing program code on a computing device; (2)adding one or more computing and/or I/O devices to the computer system;(3) incorporating and/or modifying the computer system to enable it toperform a process described herein; and/or the like.

It is understood that aspects of the invention can be implemented aspart of a business method that performs a process described herein on asubscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service providercould offer facilitate a recurring series of drawings as describedherein. In this case, the service provider can manage (e.g., create,maintain, support, etc.) a computer system, such as computer system 20(FIG. 1), that performs a process described herein for one or morecustomers. In return, the service provider can receive payment from thecustomer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement, receive paymentfrom the sale of advertising to one or more third parties, and/or thelike.

The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations arepossible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to anindividual in the art are included within the scope of the invention asdefined by the accompanying claims.

1. A computer-implemented method of facilitating a recurring series ofdrawings, the method comprising: entering at least one entrant into adatabase of eligible drawing entrants; entering the at least one entrantinto a drawing in a recurring series of drawings based on inclusion ofthe at least one entrant in the database; and automatically continuingto enter the at least one entrant into subsequent drawings in therecurring series of drawings until the entrant is removed from thedatabase.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: setting at leastone preference for the at least one entrant; and determining acustomized subset of the recurring series of drawings in which to enterthe entrant based on the at least one preference.
 3. The method of claim2, wherein the at least one preference is provided by direct input fromthe at least one entrant.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the at leastone preference is determined from available information related to theat least one entrant.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:setting at least one attribute for the at least one entrant; anddetermining a customized subset of the series of recurring drawings inwhich to enter the entrant based on the at least one attribute.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the at least one attribute is provided bydirect input from the at least one entrant.
 7. The method of claim 5,wherein the at least one attribute is determined from availableinformation related to the at least one entrant.
 8. The method of claim1, further comprising selecting a winner of at least one drawing fromall entrants included in the database at a given point in time.
 9. Acomputer system for facilitating a recurring series of drawings, thecomputer system comprising: a component configured to enter at least oneentrant into a database of eligible drawing entrants; a componentconfigured to enter the at least one entrant into a drawing in arecurring series of drawings based on inclusion of the at least oneentrant in the database; and a component configured to automaticallycontinue to enter the at least one entrant into subsequent drawings inthe recurring series of drawings until the entrant is removed from thedatabase.
 10. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising: acomponent configured to set at least one preference for the at least oneentrant; and a component configured to determine a customized subset ofthe recurring series of drawings in which to enter the entrant based onthe at least one preference.
 11. The computer system of claim 10,wherein the at least one preference is provided by direct input from theat least one entrant.
 12. The computer system of claim 10, wherein theat least one preference is determined from available information relatedto the at least one entrant.
 13. The computer system of claim 9, furthercomprising: a component configured to set at least one attribute for theat least one entrant; and a component configured to determine acustomized subset of the recurring series of drawings in which to enterthe entrant based on the at least one attribute.
 14. The computer systemof claim 13, wherein the at least one attribute is provided by directinput from the at least one entrant.
 15. The computer system of claim13, wherein the at least one attribute is determined from availableinformation related to the at least one entrant.
 16. The computer systemof claim 9, further comprising selecting a winner of at least onedrawing from all entrants included in the database at a given point intime.
 17. A computer program comprising program code embodied in atleast one computer-readable medium, which when executed, enables acomputer system to implement a method of facilitating a recurring seriesof drawings, the method comprising: entering at least one entrant into adatabase of eligible drawing entrants; entering the at least one entrantinto a drawing in a recurring series of drawings based on inclusion ofthe at least one entrant in the database; and automatically continuingto enter the at least one entrant into subsequent drawings in therecurring series of drawings until the entrant is removed from thedatabase.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: setting atleast one of: a preference and an attribute for the at least oneentrant; and determining a customized subset of the recurring series ofdrawings in which to enter the entrant based on the preference or theattribute.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the preference and theattribute are provided by direct input from the at least one entrant orare determined from available information related to the at least oneentrant.
 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting awinner of at least one drawing from all entrants included in thedatabase at a given point in time.